World community urges response to human rights violations facing Indigenous peoples in Canada

Many of Canada’s closest diplomatic allies and trading partners are urging the federal government to do more to address the serious human rights issues facing First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

On Friday, Canada’s human rights record was examined in a peer review process under the United Nations Human Rights Council.

During the process, called the Universal Periodic Review, more than 80 states offered comments and recommendations on Canada’s human rights record. The vast majority of state comments related to persistent human rights violations experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada.

These include violation of land rights, inequalities in education, health, drinking water and sanitation, food insecurity, control over lands and resources, and racial discrimination.

More than 20 states raised specific concerns about high levels of violence against Indigenous women in Canada.

New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and others urged Canada to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated national action plan to end such violence.

Ireland called on Canada to also conduct an independent national inquiry into missing Indigenous women and establish effective databases.

Australia recommended that the Aboriginality of victims of gender-based violence be accurately recorded.

The United States noted that on a per child basis, federal funding for child and family services in First Nations communities “has fallen to less than 80 percent of that provided by provincial and territorial governments for services in predominantly non-Aboriginal communities.”

The United States urged Canada to “ensure parity of funding and services between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal communities.”

The United Kingdom, Finland and Germany were among states that highlighted the importance of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Canada endorsed the UN Declaration in November 2010 but has denied any obligation to implement its provisions.

A number of states highlighted the importance of open collaboration with UN experts like the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples and respect for recommendations from UN treaty bodies.

Inequalities in access to drinking water and sanitation systems were also noted.

Norway, for example, recommended that Canada take measures to ensure that all Canadians have full and equal access to clean water and sanitation.

Canada was previously examined under the Universal Periodic Review in 2009. Many of the same concerns were raised at that time.

Although Canada acknowledged “the underlying principles” of state concerns, actions to date on their specific recommendations remain inadequate.

The report of the latest review will be released by the United Nations on Tuesday, April 30.

More information, including Canada’s statement and formal report, the comments and recommendations of other states, and the reports submitted by Indigenous peoples’ organizations and civil society groups, can be found Here

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Comment by Paul Repstock on 1st May 2013This may be a fine idea.However, it is probably only a diversionary tactic.How can we have any regard for an organization which claims jurisdiction over the entire world, yet carefully avoids any critisism of the United States?I see that Mr. Obama has renewed a stale dated promise to close Guantanamo Bay Prison. Will this happen before the prisoners die of starvation or of old age? And what will happen to those remaining prisoners if Guantanamo is closed? Will they just be sent elsewhere, or dissapeared?